Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-09-09

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM inaugurates 70th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, places emphasis on development of northern Greece

[02] Greece reminds that no EU presidency should exploit its position to advance national political choices

[03] ANA, MPE live web coverage of TIF highlight events

[01] PM inaugurates 70th Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, places emphasis on development of northern Greece

"A 'Strategic Plan for the Development of Northern Greece' is being prepared (and will be ready before the end of the year). It is a plan of prospects for the three regions, technology, innovation and competitiveness, which it defines as the pylons of their prospects for development. It is aimed at promoting and utilising their comparative advantages and paves the way for a competitive regional economy having internal cohesion and an extrovert orientation," he said.

Karamanlis said the government is aiming at turning Thessaloniki into a "Regional Convention and Exhibition Centre", adding that HELEXPO's strategy is already orientated towards this goal.

"Thessaloniki, Macedonia and Thrace are acquiring increasing geopolitical importance and a new momentum of development. What is even more optimistic is the prospect being shaped for northern Greece by the next European enlargement, when Greece will also be joined to the European Union geographically. Macedonia and Thrace can develop from border and distant regions of Greece into a geopolitical and economic centre for the wider region," he further said.

The prime minister stressed that the strategy to achieve the vision of a modern Greece is being implemented with the goal of "peace-cooperation-development", saying that "we are cultivating relations of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with all countries in our region. We are working with the aim of having our wider region becoming a European neighbourhood of peace, development and prosperity for all."

Karamanlis placed particular attention to international cooperation which is being developed in the crucial sector of energy.

"We signed a few months ago (in Sofia) a political agreement with the governments of Russia and Bulgaria for the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline. My Turkish counterpart and I have inaugurated, at the Kipi Bridge at Evros, the beginning of works for the construction of the Greek-Turkish natural gas pipeline. The development minister and his Italian counterpart have signed a protocol for the construction of an undersea pipeline which shall convey natural gas from Greece to Italy and from there to the heart of Europe," he said.

Focusing on communication, the prime minister went on to say that railway links between Thessaloniki, Sofia and Istanbul have been upgraded and the time required for these trips has been reduced considerably and the creation of an International Trade Centre to be linked to the city's port and the railway network has already been scheduled.

"The future is challenging us and we are determined to win. A great deal has yet to be done, of course. One thing, however, is more than certain: we Greeks play a leading role when we join our forces, when we utilise our culture and when we function as 'citizens of the world'," the prime minister concluded.

[02] Greece reminds that no EU presidency should exploit its position to advance national political choices

Turkey also refused to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes.

"I fear that the developments of the past 24 hours in the discussion in Brussels (COREPER) on this matter render it necessary to repeat this," Koumoutsakos said.

"It is self-evident that no (EU) presidency should take advantage of its abilities for the projection of purely national political choices," Koumoutsakos concluded.

[03] ANA, MPE live web coverage of TIF highlight events

The programme also includes: